Singer of Tales

1. Tea 2. Bread 3. Shopping 4. Pantry 5. Emotions Today was my last day completely off work or outside duties for weeks and weeks to come.   Today was made difficult by some interpersonal events in the house, and by a good deal of emotion and memory rumination.  It figures that whenever you delve into the world of your stuff you will not just be addressing the physical stuff.  I am not sure I am ready to talk about those things here today. I imagined this blog would be a lighthearted way to keep me motivated and keep perspective on the wacky world of my things and (lack of) household organization (despite the reality that these things got this way for some not so great reasons).   However, I am proud that despite these things I pushed on and made progress on a key project and did not just lay down and sleep or cry or shop as in the past. Back to the list: I began the day by making tea.  You may imagine that this involved a serene ritual, some artful ceramic ...

1. Coffee (the drink): 2. Creamer 3. Bookcases 4. Sweets/chocolate 5. Plastic bags Usually I would run down to the gas station or fast food joint for coffee. But for the last several years I have been taking home every possible packet of coffee from every hotel I've been in. They are squirreled away in various bags and nooks and crannies. In part I saved these because not only are they good for making coffee and coffee is an expensive luxury when you are cash poor, they are also good for deodorizing nd absorbing spills and pet/human accidents in a pinch.  I put a pod in a mason jar of cold water in the fridge and one hour later: strong cold brew coffee. I drained off half the jar and refilled with more cold water to rebrew. I did not have creamer or milk. I thought about using yogurt but I am saving that for smoothies. My eyes fell on a large can of powdered milk that we have had for four years plus (it was acquired when we were making bread in the bread machine reg...

After returning today from Hurricane Irma (the house and we are fine), and a trip to Target, I decided to implement a project I've been thinking of for a little while.  Project Use Up Everything.  While I hope the effect will be to save cash, declutter, not waste, and keep from unnecessary trips out of the house, the largest goal is to use my maker skills and mental energy in a positive and fun way. An additional goal is to chronicle a shift from an operational mode in years past of moderate insecurity as to place and future stability toward a present stance in which I have basic security and stability of place.  I have a lot of raw resources saved up here and pigeonholed elsewhere (car, storage unit) in the form of pantry, stores, and clutter. I like challenging myself.  I'll be chronicling my thoughts and work for this. Here are the rules for the project: 1.  Do not spend money or make trips for things you can make yourself or already have in stores.  (...